PNO-IV-98-055, on 981118,discovery of High Exposure Rates on Outside of Shipping Container Carrying R-192 Radiography Source Occurred.State of CA Conducting Insp at Inc to Review Circumstances Associated with Receipt of Package
| ML20195G144 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/19/1998 |
| From: | Cain C, Collins E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-98-055, PNO-IV-98-55, NUDOCS 9811200206 | |
| Download: ML20195G144 (1) | |
Nov:mber 19,1998
- PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE I PNO-IV-98-055 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or pubile l
interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, '
and is basically all that is known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.
Facility Licensee Emeraency Classification 1 Califomia Licensee Notification of Unusual Event 1
l Industrial Nuclear Company Alert ;
San Leandro,Califomia Site Area Emergency l General Emergency X Not Applicable l
Subject:
DISCOVERY OF HIGH EXPOSURE RATES ON OUTSmF, OF SHIPPING CONTAINER CARRYING IRRIDIUM-192 (R-192) RADIOLnAPHY SOURCE On November 18,1998 at 3:00 p.m. (EST), the NRC Operations Center received notification from the State of Califomia of an incident at industrial Nuclear Company (INC).
On November 18,1998, at about 9:50 a.m. (PST), an employee of INC received a package, via Federal Express, containing an INC Model 50 source changer with a 7.3 curie Ir-192 source. Radiation surveys completed upon receipt identified contact oose rates as high as 280 millirem per hour (mR/hr) at the side of the drum, and 1500 mR/hr on the bottom of the overpack. The high reading on the bottom of the overpack was limited to a 3-4 inch diameter area in the center of the bottom. The package had been shipped from Bill Miller Inc., of Henrietta, Oklahoma (NRC License 35-19048) on November 17,1998.The i radiography source was being shipped to INC for disposal.
An INC employee opened the shipping container for examination. The INC employee noticed the source changer did not have safety caps or plugs installed. No wire seals for either the safety cap or the safety plug were installed. While lifting the source changer from the metal drum the source fell out of the source changer. The source was subsequently put back into the shielded source changer. The INC employee's pocket dosimeter reading was off scale and his dosimetry was sent for processing. Federal Express was notified of the incident by INC. The incident was discussed with representatives from the NRC, the State of Califomia, and Federal Express during a conference call on November 18,1998. Federal Express is performing an evaluation of potential doses received by its employees who were involved in transporting the package. Region IV plans to review the circumstances associated with the shipment during an inspection at Bill Miller, Inc.'s facility next week. The State of Califomia is conducting an inspection at INC to review circumstances associated with receipt of the package.
The State of Califomia has been informed.
Region IV received notification of this occurrence from the NRC Operations Center and INC by telephone on November 18,1998 at about 2:15 p.m. Region IV has informed NMSS.
This information is current as 1:00 p.m. (CST) November 19,1998.
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Contact:
Elmo CollinsCharles L. Cain (817)860-8291(817)860-8186 h 9011200206 981119 PDR I&E -
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